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Vermont CPA Ethics Exam Requirements 2024

Vermont CPA Ethics Exam Requirements

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Vermont CPA Ethics Exam Requirements

To meet the Vermont CPA ethics exam requirements and become a CPA, a candidate must complete the course and exam from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) titled Professional Ethics: The AICPA’s Comprehensive Course (For Licensure). The exam is an open book examination and the passing score is 90%.

This article will help you to become a CPA in Vermont and is a requirement for you to take the Vermont CPA exam.

How to Save Yourself MONTHS of Time and Frustration
Keep in mind that the CPA exam is the one part of getting your CPA license that you can control how long it takes. The education and experience requirements take as long as they take, but the CPA exams can take you as little as 6 months, or as long as multiple years… depending on how effective your study process is from the beginning.
Learn how to study strategically so you can save yourself tons of time and retake fees with this free training…

Summary of Vermont CPA Requirements

Be of Good Moral CharacterYes
Credit Hours to sit for the CPA Exam120
Credit Hours in Accounting and Business to sit for the CPA Exam (*including below)30
*Credit Hours in Financial and/or Managerial Accounting (excluding Introductory Accounting) to sit for the CPA Exam6
*Credit Hours in Auditing to sit for the CPA Exam3
*Credit Hours in U.S. Taxation to sit for the CPA Exam3
*Credit Hours in U.S. Business Law to sit for the CPA Exam3
Bachelor’s Required to sit for the CPA ExamYes
Credit Hours to receive a CPA License150
Credit Hours in Accounting and Business to receive a CPA License42
Ethics ExamYes
Work Experience1 Year
Required CPE Hours Every Two Years80

General Qualifications for CPA Exam in Vermont

Like in any other state, you need to meet the education requirements, pass the Uniform CPA exam, take the Ethics exam and obtain the required experience.

The Vermont Board of Public Accountancy accepts non-U.S citizens. However, the candidate is required to have a Social Security Number.

Certificate of Enrollments, educational transcripts, and foreign evaluations are required to be submitted to CPA Examination Services.

Educational Requirements

To meet the Vermont CPA education requirements, applicants will need to fulfill the 150 semester credits and complete a bachelor’s degree that includes 42 semester hours of accounting, auditing, and related subjects.

As a first-time applicant or re-examination applicant for the CPA exam, you must have the following:

  • Good moral character
  • Earned a minimum of 120 semester hours of general college-level education with 30 semester hours in accounting and business courses, including:
    • Six semester hours of financial accounting or managerial accounting (Introductory Accounting is excluded)
    • Three semester hours in auditing
    • Three semester hours in U. S. income tax
    • Three semester hours in U. S. business law

As for your coursework to apply for a license, it should meet the qualifications the Vermont board has advised. You need to complete 42 semester hours of accounting and business courses. Your coursework should adhere to the following:

  • Six semester hours of financial accounting or managerial accounting (not elementary accounting)
  • Three semester hours in auditing
  • Three semester hours in U. S. income tax
  • Three semester hours in U. S. business law

Commercial CPA review courses are not acceptable.

Courses from any institution may count, provided they are transferred to a regionally accredited institution.

Suppose you went to university or institutions outside the U. S. In that case, your credits must be assessed by a member of the organization by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or by NASBA International Evaluation Services.

Any additional required information or documents must be sent to:

CPA Examination Services – VT
PO Box 198469
Nashville, TN 37219

Pass the Uniform CPA Examination

The “Uniform CPA Examination”, which is a 4-part exam, is developed by the AICPA – the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and administered by NASBA – the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.

The Three Core Exam Sections

Auditing and Attestation (AUD)

The Auditing and Attestation (AUD) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) tests the essential knowledge and skills a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate when performing audit engagements, attestation engagements or accounting and review service engagements.

Newly licensed CPAs are required to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills related to professional responsibilities, including ethics, independence, and professional skepticism. Professional skepticism reflects an iterative process that includes a questioning mind and a critical assessment of audit evidence.
  • Understand the entity including its operations, information systems (including the use of third-party systems), and its underlying business processes, risks, and related internal controls.
  • Understand the flow of transactions and underlying data through a business process and its related information systems.

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)

The Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) assesses the knowledge and skills that a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate in the financial accounting and reporting frameworks used by business entities (public and nonpublic), not-for-profit entities and state and local government entities.

The financial accounting and reporting frameworks that are eligible for assessment within the FAR section of the Exam include the standards and regulations issued by the:

  • Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
  • U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (U.S. SEC)
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
  • Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)

Regulation (REG)

The Regulation (REG) section of the Uniform CPA Examination (the Exam) tests the knowledge and skills that a newly licensed CPA must demonstrate with respect to:

  • U.S. federal taxation
  • U.S. ethics and professional responsibilities related to tax practice
  • U.S. business law

The Three Disciplines

The three new disciplines in the 2024 CPA Exam, part of the CPA Evolution initiative, are designed to allow candidates to specialize in areas that align with their career interests and the demands of the modern business environment. Here’s a more detailed look at each discipline:

Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)

Objective: This discipline focuses on higher-order skills needed in financial statement analysis, business reporting, and the strategic role of the CPA in business decision-making.

Key Topics:

  • Financial Statement Analysis: Understanding and interpreting financial statements to assess an entity’s financial health and performance.
  • Performance Management: Developing and using key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure, manage, and improve business performance.
  • Data Analytics and Visualization: Utilizing data analytics tools to analyze business data, and effectively presenting data to support business decisions.
  • Strategic Planning and Risk Management: Involvement in the strategic planning process and identifying, assessing, and managing business risks.
  • Business Processes and Controls: Understanding and evaluating business processes and internal controls to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Information Systems and Controls (ISC)

Objective: This discipline is tailored for those interested in information technology, data security, and controls. It addresses the increasing role of technology in accounting and auditing.

Key Topics:

  • IT Governance and Risk: Understanding the frameworks for managing and governing enterprise IT; identifying and managing IT-related risks.
  • Information Security and Cybersecurity: Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, data protection laws, and the steps necessary to protect information assets.
  • System and Organization Controls (SOC) Reporting: Understanding the requirements for SOC reports and the role of CPAs in assessing controls at a service organization.
  • Data Management and Privacy: Managing data effectively and understanding privacy regulations.
  • Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: Planning and strategies to ensure business operations can continue and recover from disruptive events.

Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)

Objective: This discipline focuses on tax compliance, tax planning, and tax strategy, suitable for those who aim to specialize in taxation.

Key Topics:

  • Individual Tax Planning and Compliance: Understanding tax laws affecting individual taxpayers, including income, deductions, credits, and tax planning strategies.
  • Business Tax Planning and Compliance: Knowledge of tax considerations for different business entities, including corporations, partnerships, and S-corporations.
  • Estate, Gift, and Trust Taxation: Understanding the tax implications and planning strategies for estates, gifts, and trusts.
  • International Taxation: Knowledge of taxation issues related to cross-border transactions and multinational enterprises.
  • State and Local Taxation (SALT): Understanding the complexities of state and local tax laws and their impact on business and individual tax planning.

Tips for Passing the CPA Exam

The CPA exam covers so many topics that you will need to study specifically for each section, usually for 6-8 weeks per section. Even a master’s degree in accounting doesn’t adequately prepare you to just walk in and pass the 4 CPA exams.

You will need a full review course such as Becker, Wiley CPA, Gleim, Roger, etc, and you will need to dedicate several hours a day over the course of months to even have a chance at getting passing scores.

How to Save Yourself MONTHS of Time and Frustration
Keep in mind that the CPA exam is the one part of getting your CPA license that you can control how long it takes. The education and experience requirements take as long as they take, but the CPA exams can take you as little as 6 months, or as long as multiple years… depending on how effective your study process is from the beginning.
Learn how to study strategically so you can save yourself tons of time and retake fees with this free training…

Vermont CPA Exam Cost Breakdown

The Vermont CPA exam cost consists of four main fees: the education evaluation application fee of $90, the $344.80 per CPA exam section totaling $1,379.20 for all four sections, the CPA registration fee of $100, and the renewal fee of $220.

Education Evaluation Application Fee$90.00
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)$344.80
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)$344.80
Regulation (REG)$344.80
Disciplines (ISC, TCP, or BAR)$344.80
Total for all 4 CPA Exam Sections$1,379.20
Initial CPA Registration Fee$115.00
Biennial Renewal Fee$255.00

Vermont CPA Experience Requirements

To meet the Vermont CPA experience requirements, the state board requires one year of public accounting experience with 2,080 hours. The board needs to see 500 hours of attest and 200 hours of auditing work. The candidate’s work experience must be under the supervision of a Vermont-licensed CPA to provide evidence of the experience upon licensing application.

How to Save Yourself MONTHS of Time and Frustration
Keep in mind that the CPA exam is the one part of getting your CPA license that you can control how long it takes. The education and experience requirements take as long as they take, but the CPA exams can take you as little as 6 months, or as long as multiple years… depending on how effective your study process is from the beginning.
Learn how to study strategically so you can save yourself tons of time and retake fees with this free training…

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